Preston Brook tunnel (1,239 yards)
A brick lined tunnel opened in 1777 at the start of the Trent & Mersey canal after the junction with the Bridgewater canal. The north end of the tunnel is the Bridgewater canal. The south end is the Trent & Mersey. It is a one-way tunnel so timed passages have to be observed.
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| North portal |
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| North portal |
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| North portal |
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| North portal |
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| North portal with stanking planks |
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| South portal |
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| South portal |
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| South portal |
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| South portal |
Armitage tunnel (c400 yards)
This rock hewn tunnel was opened in 1777 but the roof was removed in 1971 to combat subsidence effects of coal being mined nearby. Boaters have to send crew ahead to make sure no boats are coming in the opposite direction.
Saltersford tunnel (424 yards)
This brick lined tunnel is the westernmost of two tunnels south of the village of Barnton and was opened in 1777.
Typical of the northern Trent & Mersey, this tunnel is one way only and has timed passages. It has no towpath so horses used to be walked over the hill whilst boats were legged through.
This rock hewn tunnel was opened in 1777 but the roof was removed in 1971 to combat subsidence effects of coal being mined nearby. Boaters have to send crew ahead to make sure no boats are coming in the opposite direction.
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| Heading north |
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| Heading south |
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| Heading north |
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| Heading south |
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| Heading north |
Saltersford tunnel (424 yards)
This brick lined tunnel is the westernmost of two tunnels south of the village of Barnton and was opened in 1777.
Typical of the northern Trent & Mersey, this tunnel is one way only and has timed passages. It has no towpath so horses used to be walked over the hill whilst boats were legged through.
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| North portal |
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| North portal |
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| Looking up an air shaft |
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| The two air shafts |
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| South portal |
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| South portal |
Harecastle tunnel (2,926 yards)
This was the second canal tunnel to be built through Harecastle Hill. The first opened in 1777 but as it was one way and nearly two miles long it caused a bottleneck for traffic. The second (current) tunnel was opened in 1827. The original tunnel was closed in the early 1900s due to mining subsidence.
The original tunnel had no towpath so boats were legged through with horses being walked over the hill. The second (current) tunnel was built with a tow path which has now been removed.
A boater died in the tunnel in 2014 and consequently stringent health and safety procedures are in place and passage has to be booked with canal staff who time you in and out. The boater was believed to have hit his head on the roof which knocked him unconscious and he drowned. His wife was inside their boat at the time so was unaware of what had happened.
This was the second canal tunnel to be built through Harecastle Hill. The first opened in 1777 but as it was one way and nearly two miles long it caused a bottleneck for traffic. The second (current) tunnel was opened in 1827. The original tunnel was closed in the early 1900s due to mining subsidence.
The original tunnel had no towpath so boats were legged through with horses being walked over the hill. The second (current) tunnel was built with a tow path which has now been removed.
A boater died in the tunnel in 2014 and consequently stringent health and safety procedures are in place and passage has to be booked with canal staff who time you in and out. The boater was believed to have hit his head on the roof which knocked him unconscious and he drowned. His wife was inside their boat at the time so was unaware of what had happened.
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| North portal |
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| North portal |
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| North portal |
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| North portal |
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| South portal |
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| South portal |
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| South portal |
Barnton tunnel (572 yards)
The easternmost of two tunnels on the Trent & Mersey south of Barnton. It is brick lined and was opened in 1777.
Another one way tunnel on the Trent & Mersey canal. Passage is not timed so boaters have to check there are no boats coming in the opposite direction before entering the tunnel. This tunnel has no towpath and boats used to be legged through and the horses walked over the top of the hill above.
The easternmost of two tunnels on the Trent & Mersey south of Barnton. It is brick lined and was opened in 1777.
Another one way tunnel on the Trent & Mersey canal. Passage is not timed so boaters have to check there are no boats coming in the opposite direction before entering the tunnel. This tunnel has no towpath and boats used to be legged through and the horses walked over the top of the hill above.
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| East portal |
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| East portal |
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| West portal |
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| West portal |
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